Versys is a sports tourer just like the ninja 1000 (not the ZX10R) and the V-Strom is a full blooded adventure touring bike that can go offroad and should be compaired against Africa Twin, Super Ténéré and the GS. The video is great but a bad choice of bike comparison :(

I took a V Strom on an solo eight day tour of northern Spain last year for a national magazine. Loved the bike, it rides and steers like a much lighter bike, with superb smooth engine response. Just over 1800 miles covered with average fuel consumption 59.8 mpg. Great bike.

Versys is a sport tourer. The best comparison between the two I can give. The Versys 1000 is a Japanese Multistrada, the V-Strom 1000 is a Japanese GS.

It’s interesting how in 6 years the V-Strom 1000 went from being considered either forgettable or slightly unpleasant to look at, to being one of the most stylish bikes in the class. It has also maintained an affordable price while adding lots of tech. Well done Suzuki!

I bought the Strom and it's just so much fun the engine just roars and flings you down tarmac with a beaming smile. I used to have GSA's which are amazing but this is several thousands cheaper with exactly the same capabilities, I'm not taking 250-270kgs off road.

Both excellent machines and I considered both before deciding on the V-Strom. The beauty with the V-Strom is with little mods in one direction you can make a full on adventure bike or mods in the other direction and make it a full on tourer or mods down the middle and make a tourer/adventure combo! Considering the price of the V-Strom being so much lower, you can use the savings to mod it out any which way you like and still have money to spare. It was an easy choice for me.

Japanese’s machine is as smooth as silk and the linear throttle is controllable. For the 1 liter game, the off-road performance is only as secondary as the bikes possess a little more ability in un-paved way. It is far away from the word ‘off road’. Both bikes finish and detail are phenomena. But for long distance comfort, I am choosing the Versys 1000, because of the in line four cylinder inherently offer more smooth gear shift on ride than any twin configuration cylinder.

I use to own a TLS and fell in love with Suzuki's big twin. Often thought about owning a V-Strom 1000. I had a KLR for adventure riding and that machine allowed me to do half of Canada and a lot of it on dirt back roads. Sold the KLR and bought my sons Versys 650 a year ago. Great little rig. Me: I think all it needs is double the torque and cruise control this would be the perfect touring rig. Kawasaki: Let me introduce you to the 650's bigger brother...

Great video and duel,for me its all about comfort,as an previous owner of strom 650,s1000xr ,tracer 900 and gs1200 now i am thinking of this two bikes

i think v strom is a nice adventure bike in many terms.

personally feel that V engine more refined and more weight balance on frame body. 19 inch front wheel will get more control on offroad and more precious control when u standing on seat. My choose suzuki v strom due to high reliable and low maintenance cost. Cheers

I wanted a big comfortable highway commuter bike that I could also take trips on with the guys. I also wanted it to remain light and sporty enough to carve up some curves on the weekend. The Versys 1000 with the 4 cylinder has this in spades, and it's done the job wonderfully. If I were doing more camping, and needed low end torque more than highway cruising, I would have chosen the V-strom hands down. You have to pick the right tool for the job. There's lots of overlap between these two, but there's enough difference to pick one for your mission.

I love my 1050 XT,such a comfortable bike for tall persons (im 1,89m). Making a 620km Tour last weekend and it was so cool. V-Strom has power,runs smooth and silent and looks SO cool. Love it.

At a drag race, there is always a winner. Who won? Stop using "vs" if you can't declare a winner. Use "and".

As a former ZRX1200 owner, I am partial to Kawi inline fours. I currently own 2014 Versey 650 and 2019 V Strom 1000XT Adventure. I think the Versey 1000 leans towards sport touring, where the Strom is oriented towards adventure touring. Both are solid machines, just depends on what flavor you prefer.

Nice vid. In future vids can you put engine specs on screen side by side for easier comparison and look up. i can not memorize stats while watching and have to rewind to check which is more powerful etc.

Wow my dream bike ever kawasaki versy 1000 a touring bike.sending my support keep safe always in your ride my friend.

Great music selection! :D

Suzuki forever.

Excellent job.. cheers from Melbourne

The catch of the screen on the V-Strom should be left in the middle position. If you do not lock it you can adjust it during the ride just by pulling/ pushing the top end of the screen.

Versys is my choice - It looks better to me and I love the sweetness of an In-line four !

I'd love to see a similar comparison between the Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX Tourer and the BMW R 1250 RS, that's one comparo I have yet to see

I agree with many here that this is not a great comparison. Versys 1000 is more comparable to a Multistrada, S1000XR, FJ09, few others. V-Strom can be better compared to the Tiger 900GT (not Rally), ...and not much else comes to mind. It amazes me how so many completely miss the point of the V-Strom. It's an adventure bike with a strong road-bias, meaning Suzuki made deliberate trade-offs which many of us really appreciate. I'd bet 95% of adventure riders would never benefit from a 21" tubed front tire, which is great for climbing rough stuff and adding ground clearance, but cumbersome and impractical on the road. Or, soft long-travel suspension, which again is great for the rough off-road terrain, but makes for an unsettling twisty road ride. That's why the V-Strom has a 19" wheel that's a compromise between the street focused 17" and the off road focused 21", and stiff suspenders with more travel than a road tourer. Throw in the tubeless spoke wheel option and you have a bike that will do everything the vast majority of us will ever do off-pavement just as well as any other adventure bike, without giving up too much on road. It really is a brilliant bike.

When I bought my old Vstrom XT last year I saw the Versys it the saloon that just came out and for the normal one the price was only 800 € more than Vstrom. But at the end I went with Suzuki because of Vtwin engine and 19 inch front tire that I like more and with that a bit more Adventure looking style. I would love to see Kawasaki building a Vtwin 1000 cc bike and Iam the first buyer since I love their dispay and build quality.

Nice vid & a decent comparison. The Kawasaki seems like a better quality proposition overall but I think I prefer the Suzuki as it looks great imo & has the trump card of price. I would also like to think that V-Twin can be spiced up a bit with an aftermarket can & still have bags of change left over the Kwak.

Which one is better for 2up sport-touring? I am looking for a 2nd bike to fit this criteria.

Great video. Amazing bikes

Both are great bikes. I chose the Vstrom for price and reliability. I can't think of a time where I need electronically adjusted suspension. That is something else that is going to break.

Parabéns, excelente vídeo.

looks like you guys ran out of footage! the same ones were repeated so many times! lol!

Nice video, I have been driving a 2015 Versys 1000 for 3 years, at 6'4" the stock windshield created a lot of buffeting and the seat after 1 hour left but sore. Other than that great bike, but it is big. Really, it comes down to the engine between these bikes that is the major difference.

I actually own the Versys 1000 SE and you are absolutely wrong! It is very capable off road as well. Just did some of roading last weekend with the Versys and it is totally doable, no issues whatsoever. Yes I agree its main aim is at road driving, but fear not, it will not let you down on offroad conditions.

Won't be taking too much notice of this comparison since they even got the engine capacity wrong on the Versys. It's 1043cc, not 1034cc. Oh, by the way, having ridden both, I chose the Versys, since I have no intention of going off-road and just wanted a sporty full-on touring bike for me and wifey and we're both well happy with the comfort, range and equipment on the bike

Great comparison video

The Kwaka's 1,043cc, Toad, not 1,034cc.

Very good presentation. Well done.

Such a cool video, that Suzuki looks unreal!

A coda to this review. I have an '18 Vee XT that I've made a bit more sport touring. It is exceptional. Very fun to ride (power, handling, brakes), and can swallow 500-mile days with total ease (if I can physically make the 250+ miles between fueling!). Spend time with one and you won't look back.

Long distances, on the island?

Good review 👍

This is a nice comparison of the Kawasaki versys the Suzuki 👌🏾

Please these bikes were made to take pillions can we have a pillion opinion.

Vstorm is a looker! and love the Twin engine and 19inch front wheel.

Great report. Thanks for all your hard work. I don’t own a Ninja 1000 because of the insurance cost. It never occurred to me to substitute the Verses 1000. Hmmmm....

I would take the suzuki simply because it's actually simple bike not much complicated 😝

I have a '16 Versys 1000LT and it is NOT an adventure touring bike. Gravel gives it problems.

I hate "comparison" reviews which don't have the balls to declare a winner.

Awaiting the suzuki 1050 xt to come in INDIA which will definitely shake the Indian ADV segment

Are they not just avoiding lawsuits, so they made sure you get off first before adjusting screen? Avoiding the case someone adjust it while riding and crashes, and say the system is unsafe. You know some one will do it. 🙂

Long stretch hi-way = kawasaki versys 1000 Windy rural road = suzuki v-strom 1000

Every bike is an adventure bike make do of what you have. my versys can go offroad no problems at all.

I would have said the the Versys 1000 is a Sports Tourer not an adventure bike

Why is everyone complaining about the impossibility to adjust the winshield while riding, why would you do that??At which moment you say to yourself "hmmm right now I need less protection, lets put it down!", and it's unsafe to put your hand away from the steering, I really don't get it.

While the Versey 1000 is a fine upright sport touring mount, personally I think it should be shaft driven. As an owner of a 2014 Versey 650, Kawasaki strayed away from the "Versatile System ", on the 1000. I think the V Strom is similar in purpose to the original Versy. I guess that's why I purchased a V Storm 1000xt Adventure.

Interesting bikes, but a boring review! 😴 Reading the comments, far more interesting 🤔

The vstrom 1050 is comparable with the super tenere 1200 which was also a heavy adventure unpopular bike but doesn't make it less adventure worthy

Versys is nice, especially in typical green it is fantastic. It is smooth, it is silent, it is silky... Strom is rough, less sophisticated, ugly with strange colors. ..... .... ... .. . But Strom is reliable in all conditions and able to resist harsh treatment. It is much more comfortable than Versys, especially for tall guys. ....and nobody would like to steal it... Happy owner of 2016 model.... :)

Good review but is there any need for the ridiculously loud music....

I am sure both companies put the screen adjustments on the outside of the screen for insurance purposes. They don't want bikers trying to adjust it from the inside with one hand off the handle bar and then crash and sue the company for a poor design.

Thank you. I think it is a fair comparison since superficially they’re represented to the prospective market. However, each company’s existing bikes from which this innovation, the sports-tourer, were created are different. Kawasaki is an engine with wheels, while Suzuki is two wheels with an engine. It comes down to budget or brand loyalty, as I haven’t a motorcyclist who would say, ‘I prefer the bike with 15 fewer horsepower.’

If the Suzuki is only a modestly capable bike off-road then I guess it comes down to whether you prefer a 2 or 4 cylinder tourer. Personally I'm not a fan of big twin engines, especially not for a road bike, though I see how they can make sense for very long rides and riders with different tastes.

I just traded my 1050 in on versys1000 , the reason was because of reliability problems,being the cruise control cutting out and second gear in the box also quality was not very good I got the centre stand powder coated because of rust there was rust elsewhere as well, and I only rode it in the rain twice in two years and twenty two thousand kilometres,all suzuki australia didn’t help at all, and I didn’t ride it off road,the versys is a beautiful bike in every other way.

i like the comfort and overall giddyup of the kawasaki.

Shame Suzuki only offer all the new goodies on the XT version. If your never going to go off road (and almost no VStrom owners will), you won't need the spoked wheels, which I can tell you from experience, are a pain in the butt. Unfortunately, the basic version of the DL1050 isn't even as good as the basic DL1000 from 2019.

Nice review

I think I'll keep my FJR1300 for a while yet.

The Suzuki bring back the memory but I'm choosing Kawasaki for this one

The Suzuki fits a very niche market I think in stock form it is a great handling street bike and a mild dirt road tool. Add some aftermarket accessories and you make yourself a decent ADV bike for the money. No it is not a KTM 1190 Adventure but in the right hands it will get you almost as far at a whole less money. The Kawasaki is just a road touring bike with a tinge of Adventuring styling.

If I would go back ti chain driven sport-touring motorcycles I would buy the Kawasaki. Such a nice bike, easy to turn, sporty and planted! But it is hard to give up on shaft drive.... 😀

Speed-comfort-handling-refinement: Versys

Again another good comparison!! This is becoming a theme, 2 in a row now! Can you get the ultimate 3rd for the 👑? We shall see!! Good work guys👍🏾

Any bike can go off road😄when I started on bikes when I was a kid,any old bike we could get our hands on,we would ride in the woods😄most adventure bikes now never see a dirt track,they're polished and only come out on dry sunny days! The versys 1000 is a road only bike,big and comfortable, like a ninja 1000 but with long travel suspension,great for taller riders,I'm getting a new one soon,traded in my H2SX for a more comfortable riding position and after having a bike with 200bhp, I think 120bhp will be more than enough power for the road😄

I think the versys is more comfy for 2 if you do most of your riding two up, but its a heavy 4 cylinder engine, I went for the older style v strom 1000, not had the mrs on the back yet but it's a great road bike for solo use, and a lot lighter than my gtr1400!

Every single time I saw the dash on the VStrom in this video there was a stupid yellow TC light illuminated. So if you turn the traction control off, because it doesnt belong on a motorcycle like this, you get to stare at a yellow light all the time.

It's a 1043cc not 1034 for v1

I hear other people say the seat in the Suzuki is fine. And windshield you set it and forget it.. Not a big deal

I can't stand claimed power numbers. I know the difference between crank vs wheel, and I get variables in dyno's. Still, it bugs me. The Versys dyno's around 105hp and 70lbft, the Strom ~90/70 from what I gather.

An interesting review, agree the Versys is 100% tourer with no offroad pretentions, it rides beautifully and has a peach of an engine, looks good too ! However, I have to say, I cannot see the logic of pitting it against the V Strom as that bike has offroad pretentions and is not a purely sports tourer as the Versys is. I would suggest to do a 3-way test, Suzuki XT vs Honda (std manual) vs Tiger GT. All these can do a bit of offroad (Honda probably the most). For Sports Tourer test, go for Versys vs Tracer GT vs Multistrada Base 950. :-)

Kawasaki Versys 1000 SE: Is the electronic suspension any good?

apples and pineapples - I Have a vstrom 1050 and my last bike was a Versys KLZ1000GT. The best bike dynamically - the Versys, easiest to live with Suzuki. The Versys has double the intervals (almost) for valve checks so if you ride a lot ..... The Suzuki luggage is far better too

Interesting vlog ruined by too many adverts 🤬

Er, Tracer 900.

Excelllentt

You forgot about the African twin from Honda 😮

Are this two bikes comparable to the Tracer 700? Or is it a different league?

ive ridin both bikes The versys is kinda in the heavy side becoz of its inline 4 cyclinder engine

The downside of the Kawi is now the $$ they need to make a standard model again

Suzuki 😘👍

With the screens I doubt manufacturers want to encourage manual adjustment whilst riding the bike. This always seems to come up, I can't say it would bother me.. Versys would be by choice.

Which one is faster 0-60 and top speed?

I wish the Kawi was off road!!

upgrade kana bai..

Interesting comparo: a kawi 'sporty-tourer' vs. a suzi 'adventure bike'. Next comparo will be a top end LandRover Disco vs. a fully loaded 911 Porsche...

for the love of me if I will understand why reviewers say the v strom engine lacks character. It's a grunty, burbly v twin with a lot of torque down low that hapens to also have a smooth power delivery. I also heard the same about the baby strom while hearing praizes about the SV 650, which I need not point out how ridiculous it is.... What is this mystical character that it's lacking ?

Versys all day long for myself.. but you can't really compare the two 😕

The Versys's price tag is too high. The starting price is even higher than BMW S1000XR. $17999+410 destination fee compared to fully loaded S1000XR($20000), I guess I will pick BMW.

love my vstrom

I think this is a good comparison, not because they are in the same path, but because this two bikes that comes up first when you think about a 1000cc adventure bike.

Pillion viewpoint?